TREBCourtesy of the Toronto Real Estate Board.

These most recent numbers provide a positive insight into what is to come.

“The strong June result capped off an interesting fi rst half of 2011,” says Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Richard Silver.

“The pace of sales was a bit sluggish at the beginning of the year, but rebounded in May and June. Because of the positive affordability picture, home buyers remained confi dent in their ability to purchase and pay for a home over the long term.”

Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis, adds, “While sales have been strong, we would

be on track for a record number of transactions in 2011 if not for the decline in listings so far this year.”

“Tight supply meant more competition between home buyers and an accelerating annual rate of price growth in the second quarter.”

“Home owners will likely react to the stronger price growth by listing their homes in greater numbers. A better supplied market would result in more moderate price increases,” predicts Mercer.

Is a real estate move in your sights? Simply call for a personal home evaluation, today!

With a 21 percent increase in home sales through the Toronto MLS® system in June 2011 compared to June 2010, and a 9.5 percent increase in average price for June transactions over the same period, it certainly appears that the Toronto market is looking “up”! In fact, the 10,230 sales fi gure resulted in the third best June on record.

Toronto Market Looking Up!

4

Recine Team ReportCompliments of Melanie & Fabio RE/MAX Premier Inc., Brokerage

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Melanie Maranda Recine &Fabio Recine

Sales Representatives

"It's your callCall Melanie and Fabio"

RE/MAX Premier Inc., Brokerage9100 Jane Street, Bldg. L, Suite #77Vaughan, ON L4K 0A4

Office: 416-987-8000Fax: 416-987-8001Direct Melanie: 647-836-4062Direct Fabio: 416-828-5441mmaranda96@hotmail.comfrecine@trebnet.comwww.RecineTeam.ca

Greetings! You’re receiving thisnewsletter with hopes that you find itinformative and entertaining.

If you’re thinking of making a move, orare just curious as to real estate trendsin your area, please feel free to call atany time. It’s always good to hearfrom you!

Best wishes,

Melanie and Fabio

Volume 7, Issue 8

Whether you’ve just moved into your very first home and you’re working with a blank canvas, or you’re

redecorating your home for the fifth time, coming up with decorating ideas can be a challenge. Luckily,

inspiration can be found everywhere. Here are a handful of places from which you might invite some ideas.

Inviting Inspiration

2

The GreaT OuTdOOrs With its brilliant hues, intricate patterns and varied textures, nature is an ideal source from which to draw inspiration. We have such a profound connection to our surroundings that it makes perfect sense to bring some of the outdoors in. do you love spending time at the beach? Think marine blues and greens, nautical stripes, and driftwood sculptures. Feel more at home roughing it in the wild? Think hard woods, stone and earth tones.

a PaGe FrOm hisTOry different historical periods are indelibly associated with certain aesthetic looks. so, if there’s a particular period that fascinates you, why not revive it at home? Take the art deco style of the early 20th century, for example. you can recreate it with a color palette of black, white, cream, beige and pastel accents. Black lacquer cabinets, mirrored accents, chrome hardware, wood furniture, and glass tabletops help complete the look.

mOdel PerFecT model homes are an excellent source of ideas because they’re decorated by professionals — professionals who are up on the latest trends, who know how to make spaces seem bigger than they are, and how to highlight a home’s best features, for example. Why not bring your camera along and take pictures for later reference?

WhaT dO yOu dO FOr Fun? do you have a hobby that might lend itself to a décor theme? For book lovers, there are book-themed

wallpaper borders, fabrics, and even furniture. are you a wine enthusiast? Think rich burgundy curtains, wine-themed artwork, and vine-like patterns on fabric or in metalwork. The great thing about taking your inspiration from something so personal is it makes for a décor that’s truly reflective of who you are.

in The media never have there been so many TV shows devoted to home décor — there are even entire networks dedicated to the topic. But, while these shows are entertaining, they’re less practical than looking to magazines and catalogues for ideas, as you can rip pages out and take them with you as reference while shopping. and, with catalogues, you’ll know exactly where to buy what you like; similarly, magazines often indicate where featured items can be bought.

As you shop for furniture and accessories to complete your new décor, think locally. Not only do you help support your community by buying locally made goods, you help the environment, too, by reducing the harmful effects of transportation, such as pollution. If you can’t buy local, buy sustainable, which means purchasing items made from recyclable resources or made by companies committed to environmentally friendly manufacturing processes or both.

Go Green

Volume 7, Issue 8 3

The more risky of two scenarios is that you’re closing on the purchase of your new home some time before closing on the sale of your old one, and you’ll be saddled with two mortgages. If you can’t finance them both on your own or with help from family, talk to a lending consultant before you put your current home on the market — you may be able to borrow against the equity in your old home in order to finance the purchase of your new one.

The less risky possibility is that you’re closing on your current home before your new one, in which case you’ll be homeless for a time. One option is a rent-back provision, which allows you to rent your recently sold home from its new owners; this strategy will limit your pool of buyers to those who don’t require immediate occupancy, however. In any case, you’ll need to find temporary accommodations, not just for you but for your belongings and any pets you may have as well.

However you choose to bridge the gap between your two closings, plan ahead and don’t forget to account for the added expenses (e.g., borrowing money; arranging short-term accommodations) as you organize and budget for your move.

Ideally, you’d always be able to coordinate your

closings so that you sell one home and buy the

next on the same day. But things don’t always

go so smoothly. So what do you do when your

closings don’t line up?n Demographics. Which kinds of properties are — and

will be — in demand in any particular market? That depends, in part, on its demographic characteristics, such as age, income, family size, growth rate, and migration patterns. For example, if retirees are flocking to a particular area, demand for condos there might increase. And as demand increases, so will prices.

n Inventory. This is relative to the supply side of the equation; that is, how many properties are available for purchase? The answer differs between markets, due to factors like housing starts, for example. Whether a particular community is experiencing a buyer’s market or a seller’s market largely depends on inventory levels.

n The job market. Back to the demand side of the equation, is the local job base growing or shrinking? In markets experiencing job growth, demand for housing tends to be higher and, in turn, property values increase. Conversely, if a major local employer closes its doors, for example, the demand for and value of properties may decline.

Real estate sales representatives are experts on their local markets — they know who a particular market’s buyers are, and what those buyers want; they know how much local inventory is available; and they’re knowledgeable about the economic factors that influence property values. Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, this information is critical to your pricing and negotiating strategy.

You may have heard the adage that “every

market is different.” But do you know why?

Here’s a look at just a few of the many factors

that make every real estate market unique.

Going Local Mind the Gap

If you’re considering doing any major outdoor renovations this summer, remember: some projects are better bets than others in terms of recouping expenses when you sell your house. While the following home features look great, they might not provide you with the return on investment you may expect.

n Pools. A pool can either clinch a sale, or lower your home’s value. Why? The upkeep and expense could be a turnoff to some potential buyers, while buyers with children may view a pool as a liability, an accident waiting to happen. As a condition of purchase, some buyers even request pools be filled in.

n Sophisticated landscaping. Like pools, overly elaborate landscaping requires upkeep that can be time consuming and expensive. You may have a green thumb, but buyers who don’t may be so intimidated by the idea of the work involved that they won’t even want to see the inside of your house.

n Garage additions. To build a garage requires a foundation, walls, a roof, which is a relatively high expense, much of which won’t likely be recouped — many buyers expect garages and typically aren’t willing to pay extra for them. On an existing garage, however, new doors — perhaps with glass inserts — offer a high rate of return.

n A sunroom. A bright benefit to some; a waste of space — space that needs to be heated and cooled — to others.

The point here is not to discourage you from doing any of these projects, rather, it’s to get you thinking about your motivation for doing them. If your motivation is increased enjoyment of your house, great! If it’s solely to boost your home’s value, you might want to think twice.

Reno Recoup

Amortization Schedule — Set up as

a table detailing each periodic payment

on a loan, an amortization schedule is

a handy tool that shows you when your

mortgage will be paid off. Initially, the

majority of each payment is allocated

to interest; toward the end of the

table, the majority is allocated to the

principal, gradually decreasing the loan

balance until there’s nothing left to pay.

Terminology Tip

4

The information and opinions contained in this newsletter are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The publishers assume no responsibility for errors and omissions or for any damages resulting from the use of the published

information. This newsletter is provided with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, or other professional advice. Not intended to solicit properties or businesses listed for sale and agency agreements in place with other real estate brokers. Whole or

partial reproduction of this newsletter is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. © Market Connections Inc.® 2011, Phone: (800) 387-6058.

2 Bedroom325K

Handy Man's dream359K

1 Bedroom203K

Fabio and Melanie RecineSales Representatives

416-828-5441/647-836-4062

Compliments of Melanie and Fabio RE/MAX Premier Inc., Brokerage

Villa GiardinoHwy 7 and MartingroveKing City

1 acreTREVISO II